Vegetarian, vegan and halal communication
State what you do not eat instead of relying on one label. Ask about meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, broth, fish sauce, animal fat, cooking alcohol and shared cookware as relevant. For halal food, ask the venue for current verifiable certification and treat self-description separately. A preference or religious request is not the same as an allergy.
On this page
Quick answer
State what you do not eat instead of relying on one label. Ask about meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, broth, fish sauce, animal fat, cooking alcohol and shared cookware as relevant. For halal food, ask the venue for current verifiable certification and treat self-description separately. A preference or religious request is not the same as an allergy.
Who this guide is for
- This applies to
- A visitor communicating vegetarian, vegan, no-pork, no-alcohol or halal dietary needs at a restaurant.
- This does not apply to
- Food-allergy diagnosis, treatment, restaurant ranking, a guarantee about ingredients, or certification by ChinaReady.
- Review status
- The fixed English, Chinese and pinyin phrases completed editorial language and safety wording review on 24 July 2026. This is not clinical certification and does not guarantee a dish, venue or kitchen is safe.
Choose the request in 30 seconds
Use an ingredient-based phrase rather than assuming one label has the same meaning everywhere.
Vegetarian
Ask about meat, seafood, broth, fish sauce and animal fat.
Vegan
Also ask about eggs, dairy and other animal-derived ingredients.
Halal or no pork/alcohol
Ask what is used, whether cookware is shared and whether current certification can be verified.
Before you ask
- Decide whether the request is a dietary preference, religious requirement or food allergy.
- List the ingredients and preparation practices that matter rather than using one broad label alone.
- Keep the fixed phrase visible and ask staff to tell you when they cannot confirm.
- Use the allergy page instead if cross-contact could create a medical risk.
- Do not treat a restaurant's description as independent certification.
Say what you do not eat
- Vegetarian request
- Clarify meat, seafood, broth, fish sauce and animal fat rather than relying only on the word vegetarian.
- Vegan request
- Also clarify eggs, dairy and other animal products.
- No pork or alcohol
- Ask about lard, broth, cooking alcohol and alcohol-based seasonings where relevant.
- Shared cookware
- Ask if this matters to you, but do not assume the kitchen can provide separation.
Confirm the request in this order
Choose the closest approved fixed phrase and keep its limitations visible.
Ask about that recipe rather than a general promise for the whole menu.
Broth, fish sauce, animal fat, eggs, dairy and cooking alcohol may not be obvious from the dish name.
The venue may not be able to separate utensils, oil or preparation surfaces.
For halal food, ask to see current verifiable certification; record no ranking or endorsement from ChinaReady.
If staff cannot confirm a requirement that matters to you, do not turn uncertainty into a guarantee.
ChinaReady has not verified one current national registry that establishes the halal status of every restaurant in mainland China. Ask the venue for current verifiable certification and distinguish it from self-description. ChinaReady does not certify or rank restaurants.
Fixed dietary phrases
Fixed text approved through editorial language and safety wording review. ChinaReady does not allow editing, storage or transmission of phrase content; the phrases are not a food-safety guarantee.
Common mistakes
- Using one label without ingredients Definitions can vary; name the ingredients and preparation practices that matter.
- Treating preference and allergy as the same Use the dedicated allergy safety workflow when a medical risk is involved.
- Assuming self-description is certification Ask for current verifiable evidence rather than relying on a directory or label alone.
- Looking for a ChinaReady ranking ChinaReady does not rank, certify or commercially recommend restaurants.
Printable communication checklist
- Request type identified
- Relevant ingredients named
- Broth and animal fat asked about
- Cooking alcohol asked about if relevant
- Shared cookware asked about if relevant
- Certification evidence requested if needed
- Allergy handled separately
Frequently asked questions
Is a vegetable dish automatically vegetarian or vegan?
Do not assume so. Ask whether meat broth, fish sauce, animal fat, eggs, dairy or other animal-derived ingredients are used.
Does ChinaReady have a national halal restaurant registry?
No. ChinaReady has not verified one current national registry covering every restaurant. Ask the venue for current verifiable certification.
Can I use this page for a food allergy?
Use the dedicated allergy card instead. A dietary preference or religious request is not the same safety context as an allergy.
Sources and evidence limits
No current scope-appropriate official source has been verified for a single national halal restaurant registry. The page therefore asks for venue-level current evidence and makes no certification claim.
About this guide
ChinaReady editors prepared and reviewed this page against the sources above. Details can change; confirm current information with the responsible authority, venue or operator before you travel.